Stereoscope.



H. N.VCLARKE.

STEREOSCOPE. APPLICATloN FILED FEB.23,1911.

19252,* Pimm Jan. 1, 1918.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. N. CLARKE.

sTEnEoscoPE.

0NA F LED 1,252,089. hmm im 1, 1918.

" 2 sains-snm 2.

t "is HARRY N. CLARKE, or CLEVELAND, oHo, AslsI'GNof-H fro ,CCSgltfijE-s'c'orE coMANY, or CLEVELAND, oHIo, A CORPORATIONY 6E oHIo.

sTEEEoso'oPE.

speeicatin of Letters Patent.

Patented Jail'. 1y, 1918.

Application filed February 23, 1917. SeraINo. 150,295'.

j To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY N. CLARKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stereoscopes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention isv to provide a stereoseope adapted to be folded into a compact space. Adaptability for placing in a box with stereoscopic views, and ease of extending or folding the instrument are characteristics of my stereoscope. Further this stereoscope is so designed' that it may be very cheaply constructed, being readily made .almost entirely of sheet metal. My invention is hereinafter'v more fully explained, and its essential characteristics are set out in the claims.

.In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stereoscope extended or in condition for use; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the stereoscope ready for use;

' Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the stereoscope,

views. Fig. 6 is a perspective Yview of a portion of the lens-carrying plate with the handle dropped ready for folding,and Fig. 'T is a cross section through the extensible shaft, as indicated by the line 7-7 in Fig. 2, these two views being on an enlarged scale; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail in horizontal section, as indicatedby the line 8 on Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 10 indicates the vertical lens-plate carrying lenses 11, l1, which are shown `as mounted in frames 12 suitably secured to the rear face of the lens-plate. On the lower edge of this lens-plate is a forwardly extending flange 14, forming the bottom or nose-plate. 15 indicates the top or vizor-plate. This has a depending vertical flange 16 (preferably an integral portion of the plate rounded from it), the lower edge of which flange is hinged tothe upper edge of the lens-plate. There may conveniently be a hinge'wire 18 and curled ears' on the vertical flange and the lens-plate, as shown. f Y l Depending from the ends of the Hvizor- Y platev and rigid with it, are the end plates 20. These are provided at their rear edges -with narrow binwardly extend-ing flanges 21 adapted to lie against the-,rear face of the lens-plate whenfvthehood isV in active position. The end plates 2O alsohave inward flanges 22 extendingl a short distance along their lower edges; These flanges are ada-pted to iabut the lower face of the nose-'plate 14. The end plates 20 arepro'vided with slight inward projections' adjacent to their lower corners, preferably made by bending inwardly a portion of the plate, asillustrated at 23. This inward projectionv or protuberance lies just in front of the lensplate and by engaging-it prevents the extendedl hood being inadvertently collapsed.

One or more springs are provided, tending to maintain the hood inextended position. For this purpose I have shown helical springs 25, Fig. V3, surroundingthe hinge rod 18 and having extendedl ends bearing against the flange 16 and the lens-plate 10. These springs are quite light,y but are suincient to swing the vizor andend flaps into active position when such parts arev released.l l

Fig. -l illustrates the hoodV collapsed with thel vizor plate 15 swung down into avvertical position and the flange 16 horizontal and the end flaps 20 overhangingthe ends of the lens-'plate and projecting` towardy the view end of the stereoscope. This is'A the position of the hood when' the stereoscope'is stored, as hereinafter explained. When it is removed from its2 receptacle', the sprin s 25 automatically swing the hood into'su stantially the extended` position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Thena slight pressure of thev fingers `on the flanges 21- springs the: inward projections 23A over the ends of the lens-plate and secures the h'ood'- extended. The hood will remain inthis position during use' and will hold its'extended condition, though comparatively light pressure; will collapsel it:v whenever desired.

The extensible"v shaft which carries the view holder and is connected-with the lensplate may convenientlyv be made* of two pieces of sheet metalf. One of these pieces has a substantially horizontal portion 30 and a-y vertical front: portion 31' lying valongv the 'rear face of the le'nsplate' and securedto'it.

-v tional engagement. rlhe pin carried by the by formingflanges 32 on the edges of the portion 3l, which flanges have lugs 33 extending through'the lens-plate and bent over on the front 'side thereof. The horizontal poition 30 of this shaft member has downward edge flanges 34, stifi'ening it.

. The member of the extensible shaft whichV carries the view holder is designated 40. It consists of a strip slightly narrower than-A the strip 30 and ianged at its edges 41 and -seated within thestrip 30. AThe two strips 30vand 40 are provided with slots 35 and 45 respectively, andeach strip carries a pin extending through the slot of the other strip and'provided with a spring establishing fricstrip 30 is designated 36. 1t is shown as upset'in the end portionv of the strip and extends downwardly vertically and has a head 37. Around the shank of the pin isa springSS- pressing upwardly against a washer 39 whiclilies on the underside of the Vstrip 40, such spring action making a frictional binding between the two strips at this point. l Thevother pin is designated 46. Y It is loosely mounted in a hole in the Vforward Vend portion of the strip 40 and extends through the slot 35 and has a head 49 on its upper end overhanging the strip 30. At its 30V lower end it has a head 47 and above this a helical spring48 bearing against-the underside ofthe strip 40. The construction described providesa very simple frictional engageinent between the two members of the extensible shaft, enabling the shaft to be tele- -scoped asdesired, as well as to hold any position given it. .Y

The view holder shown is very simple and Y effective. It consists of three pins 50, 51 and 52 rising from a transverse bar 53, which is secured on a downwardly oset portion 42 of the strip 40. This downwardly offset portion is provided by a vertical connecting Yportion 43 vvand a horizontal step on which the cross bar seats. 1 This construction may thus readily beeffected by simply bending l downwardly and then longitudinally the end v.port-ion of the strip 40, the flanges 41 being omitted at. suchparts. The pins are preferably secured to the strip 53 by having their lower'ends upset therein. The middle pin V51 mayextend through the step 42, and, by

being upset below it, form the means of securing the strip to the step.

It will be` noticed that the pin 51 is set somewhatnearer the front of the stereoscope than the other two pins. It is also somewhat shorter than the other pins. The view is placed in front of the two pins and 52 and behind the pin 51, there.beingjust enough bending of the view in this placement to frictionally hold it in position.

One of the features of my invention consists of the hinged handle adapted to be folded .along the shaft-fol' packing. This handle is shown as consisting of a sheet metal member bent to make a flattened hollow tube and having an upward vextension 61 on its forward side. This forward `extension is of a suitable width and thickness to pass into the vertical pocket provided between the shaft member 31 and the rear face' ofthe lens-plate 10. This handle portion 61 is hinged at its upper end 62 to a plate 65 of corresponding thickness and width which lies within the pocket described, and is provided at its upper edge with a forwardly extending ear 66 adapted to project through a vertical slot 13 inthe lensplate. y Y

l l The slot 13 limits the up and down movement of the handle, but is of sufficient length to allow the handle portion 61 to enter the pocket, locking the handle in vertical posi.r

ltion, as shown in Fig. 1," or to allow it to drop to bring the hingen62 below `the shaft, asshown in-Figs. 4, 5 and 6. When the .handle is in its uppermost position the edges 63 of its tubular portion substantially yabut the flanges 34 of the shaft member' 30. The extension 61, as well as the plate 65, is then snugly housed within the pocketbetween the shaft portion 31' and the lensp'late, and the handle is held firmly in place. V'Vhen, however, the handle is drawn downwardly', the

hinge comes below the shaft and thenthe handle is free to be folded along the shaft. To enable the greatest compactness, I provide openings 68 and 69 in the rear face of the handle which provide spaceV for the pins 36 and 46 when the handle is folded over into horizontal position. v 5 y Fig. 5 illustrates a suitable receptacle 70 for carrying the folded stereoscope together with a pile of views. This receptacle is prefl erably a` rectangular box having near one end a curved partition 71 adapted to separateftlie folded Vhood from the view space, and, near the other end, a partition 72 separating the View holder from the view space. In the space between these partitions in the box I place a pile of views, as illustrated at YV75,.- vThe vcurved partition 71 keeps these views away from either edge kof the box so that space is provided for the operators fingers whereby he may readily lift the views out from the box.

To store the stereoscope the hood' is col- 4 lapsedand `the handle released and swung alongside of the shaft and the stereoscope -lapsed'just enough to enable the stereoscope to fit the box. Accordingly, in placing the igaeegose stereoscope inthe-ibox, the handle. islfolded a'longsidev of vthe; shaft 'and then.: the shaft holes inA the. handle. vWhen the stereoscope isvinllthe'box, the .shaft .forms abar across therpile' ofviews,.preventing their displacement.

It willf belfseen4 from thexdescriptionA and drawings that the stereoscope is arranged ybox-'beyond that required forithet views themselves. It". is readily. collapsed'for placringY in the box andextendedzwhen removed. In removing the stereoscope, it is only necessary, forv example, to swingthe handle 60 upwardly into5 a vertical position Vand.

Ashoveitf-downwardly, to carry* itsportion 6l, .into the pocket, then to- *remove` the stereoscope from .the box,` allowing the hood to spring`- into extendedposition, and securingrthe hoodby a-:slight finger pressure arr the' corners;

Prefer-ably, the handle extension 61- and the plat'e have*asnugenough engagement in the pocket on the lens-plateso that morezforce than. the gravity oftheparts isl required-*to-.carry the;` hinge out of the pocket. Accordingly, when-the handle. is swung up and the hinge'shoveddown into thev pocket (whenthe stereoscope'is invert- Vedinrthe box) the stereoscope may be lifted out fronrtherbox by its'handle z and carried 'bythe handle until it .is desired to again collapse it.

lHaving thus described my inventiony what I claim is:

-lz In ahood forrstereosc'opes,the combination of .a1 lens' carrying plate, atop vizor hinged on a: horizontal axis -to .the upper edge of the lens plate, lvertical. end flaps rigidly secured to the lvizorand extending downwardly, therear edges of said end rflaps terminating vadjacent-:to the ends of the lens plate when the vvizor is horizontal and said end flaps extending rearwardly across the endp plate when thefvizoris swung down substantially parallel with the'lens plate.

2.A In ahood .for stereoscopes,. the combinationy of a. lensplate, awtop vizor plate, a downwardly extending? flange ati the rea-r edge ofl said'- v-izor plate,and'rigidwitli` it,

Y saidflange being. hinged at its lower edge tothe upper edge of thelens plate, and end flaps carried. by oneiof' said plates.

3. In a hood for stereosccpes, ythe combination of a -lens plate, atop viZorfplate, a

-dowi'iwardly' extending flange at the rear edge of the vizorxplate, said ffl'ange being hinged at its lower edge to the upper-edge of the4 lens platefa'nd end? flaps rigid" with the vizor plate andV Hange.4 .Y

4.-'1In 'a hood for stereoscopes,the combination of af-lens plate', vizor/fplate having a `d'ownwardly extending :flange :the 4lower vbelow its normal plane to the upper e tov :occupy very little additional"space in the Hofthe lens plate, a. nose plate yextending edge'of which` is` hinged to Vthe upper edge of the-lens plate,.endy flaps rigidzwiththe vizor plate and g flange, and. flanges.- on the rear edges ofthe end flaps-*adapted toJover lap.-and.` lie against. the rear: face offthelens. -fplatewwhenthe vizor. plate is substantially horizontal;

In a: folding hood for stereoscopes, the combinationlof a` lens plate, a vizor hinged ge forwardly from the lower edge ofthe-lens plate and rigid therewith, end flaps rigid with the f vizor and providedl onV their lower edges with flanges adaeted to extend be-y neath the nose plat-e, and having on their rear edgesfiangesadapted toflie along the about the samefdistance infront of` the lens plate.

@The combination .ofl av lens plate, a

lvizor'hingedrto the upper edge thereof, a

:having a downwardly extending flangev hinged to the upper. edge of the lens plate, aspring at such hinge tending to swing the vizor plate into normal position, end aps carried-by the vizor plate,` and flanges on the end flaps adapted to over-hang the rear face of the lensplate. .Y

10. In a folding` hood for stereoscopes,

the. combination vof a lens plate, Va vizor plate having` a rigid' downwardly extending flange-hinged to thel upper edge of the lens plate, and avspring surrounding` the hinge rod and having; its ends bearing against .the face of theflange andlens plate respectively.

ll. In a. stereoscope,. the combination.- with a lens carrier, a' shaft and apocket adjacent to the `lens carrier, of. a foldable handle having adjacent to its upper-end, a

'.hinge connection` with the parts-inentioned,

such-hinge connectionf'being; bodily shifty l able into and out of the pocket, and thewall ofthe pocket being adapted .to engage the handle below the hinge connectionrv and.

prevent folding of the handle.

V12. The combination, with a lens carrier, of a pocketcarrled thereby and open at its lower end, and a handle having a hinge ad-y ]acent toits upper end which is shiftable into and out of the pocket, the wall of the pocket being adapted to engage and rigidly Vconfine the handle when the hinge is inthe pocket. Y

L13. The combination with a lens carrier, of a pocket carried thereby, amember slidably mounted in said pocket, and a handle hinged at its upper end to saidV member,

said hinge being adapted to lie in the pocket or be positioned below it.

14. In a stereoscope, the combination of a lens carrier having a vertical pocket opening downwardly, a handle having an upward extension adapted to occupy said pocket, a slidable member within thepocket to which the upper end ofthe handle is hinged, and a shaft connected with the lens carrier, said handle being adapted to be folded into position along the under side ofy the shaft.

' pocket, and a slidable block in the pocket hinged to the upper end of the handle.

16. In a stereoscope, the combination of a lens carrier having a vertical pocket opening downwardly, a handle having an upward extension adapted to occupy said pocket, a slidable member within the pocket to which the upper end of the handle is hinged, and meansfor limiting the vertical movement of said member.

pocket on the rear face thereof, a handle having an upward extension adapted to yoccupy said pocket, a slidable member in the pocket hinged at its lower edge to the upper end of said extension, and a lug on said member occupying a slot in the lens plate.

18. In a stereoscope, the combination of a lens plate, a shaft member having an upturned forward portion, said forward portion having flanges abutting and secured to the rear face of the-lens plate and providing a pocket along such rear face, a handle having an upward extension adaptedto occupy said pocket, and a member slidable in the pocket and hinged to the handle extension. f i

19. In a stereoscope, the combination with a lens carrier and view holder, of a telescoping shaft connecting the vsame andgcomprising two channel-shaped members `seated one (withinthe other and one connected toL the lens carrier and the other tothe view holder, and spring. means for establishing frictional engagement between said channelshaped strips.

20. In a stereoscope, the combination with a lens carrier and view holder, of atelescopn Ving shaft connecting the same and comprising two bars each having a slot and each bar carrying a vpin extending through the slot of the other bar, and springs held by said pins. I -1 21. In a stereoscopethe combination with -a lens carrier and a view holder, of an eX- lof the lensplatel and bent to extend rearward substantially horizontally, another strip engaging the strip first' mentioned, one of said strips having flanges overlapping the edges of the other, one of the strips :having a slot and the other strip carrying a pin extending through such slot, and a Vspring carried by said pin for providing a frictional engagement between the strips.

23. In a folding stereoscope, the combination of a lens carrier', an extensible shaft secured thereto and having two members one slidable on the other, a pin carried by one of such members and occupying a slot in the other, and a handle having a hinged engagement vwith the vlens carrier and having a hole in its rear face adapted to be occupied by said pin when the handle is folded along the under side of the shaft. 17. The combination of a lens plate, a

24. VIn a folding stereoscope, the combination of a lens plate, an eXtensible shaft comprising a substantially horizontal. portion and a vertical portion, the vertical portion standing adjacent tothe rear face of the lens plate andhaving edge flanges abuttingsuch rear face and thus providing a pocket between it and the rear face, an extension member of such shaft having sliding con-V nection with the member first mentioned, a downwardly extending pin carried by one of said shaftmembers and occupying a slot inthe other member, aspring surrounding the pin to provide frictional engagement, a plate slidable in the pocket, and a handle in the form of a flattened tube having an upward extension hinged at its upper edge .to the lower edge of the pocket plate, the

rear side of said handle havingan opening adapted to be occupied by said pin when the handle is folded against the under side of the shaft.

25. In a stereoscope, the combination of a lens carrier, a shaft, secured thereto, and a View holder carried by said shaft comprising a transverse bar having three pins rising from it near its ends and middle respectively,'the middle pin extending into the shaft and securing the transverse bar to it.

26. The combination of a lens carrier, an eXtensible shaft comprising two mutually slidable connected bars, one of which is secured to the lens carrier, a step made by downwardly offsetting the rear end of the other bar, a transverse bar secured to said step, and three vertical pins carried by said bar, the middle pin being positioned slightly out of the plane connecting the other two pins.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiiX my signature.

HARRY N. CLARKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

